Medizinische Universität Graz Austria/Österreich - Forschungsportal - Medical University of Graz
Gewählte Publikation:
Reiser, EM.
Neurophysiological Correlates of the Impact Social-Emotional Information has on an Individual.
[ Dissertation ] Karl-Franzens-University of Graz; 2014. pp.57.
- Autor*innen der Med Uni Graz:
- Betreuer*innen:
- Lackner Helmut Karl
- Altmetrics:
- Abstract:
- There is evidence that during the processing of social-emotional information, a top-down mechanism implemented in prefrontal cortical regions exerts regulatory control on posterior association cortices relevant to sensory information processing, perception and memory formation. In three studies it was investigated whether individuals differ in the extent of prefrontal regulatory influence during the processing of social-emotional information and if neuronal differences are associated with the impact of social-emotional information on the individual. To this end, changes of functional coupling between prefrontal and posterior cortical regions were assessed by obtaining EEG coherences during social-emotional processing in various situational contexts, and were related to relevant behavioral measures. An increase (compared to a decrease) of prefrontal-posterior EEG beta coherences during social-emotional processing, indicating increased regulatory influence of prefrontal regions on posterior regions, was associated with more efficient recovery from negative emotional contagion, lower scores in the propensity to ruminate, lesser positive emotional responsiveness, lower scores in the trait absorption, and fewer intrusive memories of witnessed emotional-distressing events. The presented research illuminates a novel brain mechanism involved in the perception and encoding of social-emotional information and demonstrates a promising method for the detection of interindividual differences in this mechanism. The findings indicate that state-dependent changes of intrahemispheric coupling between prefrontal and posterior cortical regions during social-emotional processing modulate the impact social-emotional information has on the individual. Investigating interindividual differences in this process may deliver us insight into mechanisms not fully understood so far.